Endoscopic instruments
Embodiments of the invention include a medical device with one or more of a variety of features. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to endoscopic devices that include one or more features that improve the use of the device. Examples of such features include chamfered edges and corners on, for example, the end effectors, a surface with a controlled finish also on, for example, the end effectors, a jaw with teeth and/or a tang having various configurations, a handle having soft-grip features, and/or an elongate member with varied rigidity.
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This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §§119, 120 of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/479,145 to Elliott ROTHBERG and William GIL DE MONTES entitled BIOPSY FORCEPS CUTTER WITH RADIUSED FEATURES and filed on Jun. 18, 2003.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention include a medical device with one or more of a variety of features. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to endoscopic devices that include one or more features that improve the use of the device. Examples of such features include chamfered edges and corners on, for example, the end effectors, a surface with a controlled finish also on, for example, the end effectors, a jaw with teeth and/or a tang having various configurations, a handle having soft-grip features, and/or an elongate member with varied rigidity.
2. Background of the Invention
Various medical instruments may be used in connection with an endoscope for performing a number of operations at a site deep within a patient's body cavity. One such instrument, a biopsy forceps device, samples tissue from a body cavity with minimal intervention and discomfort to patients. Typically, a biopsy forceps device, like other endoscopic instruments, has a long flexible tubular member for insertion into a lumen of an endoscope. The tubular member is sufficiently long and flexible to follow a long, winding path of the body cavity. An end effector assembly, such as a biopsy forceps assembly, is attached at a distal end of the tubular member, and a handle is attached at a proximal end of the tubular member. The handle may have an elongate portion and a spool portion disposed around the elongate portion. The spool portion may be configured to move longitudinally relative to the elongate portion. An elongate mechanism, such as one or more pull wires, extends through the tubular member to connect the end effector assembly and a portion of the handle, such as the spool portion. Longitudinal movement of the spool portion relative to the elongate portion of the handle causes the elongate mechanism to move longitudinally in the tubular member, which in turn causes the actuation of the end effector assembly.
In methods of using the biopsy forceps device, an endoscope is placed in a patient's body cavity adjacent a tissue site from which the acquisition of a tissue sample is desired. The biopsy forceps device is then advanced to the tissue site via a working channel of the endoscope. Once the biopsy forceps device is next to the portion of the tissue from which the acquisition of a tissue sample is desired, the spool portion is moved relative to the elongate portion so as to move pull wires. The movement of the pull wires causes the jaws of the biopsy forceps assembly to open.
The open jaws are then advanced to the tissue site, and the spool portion is again moved relative to the elongate portion so as to move the pull wires such that the jaws close. The closing of the jaws causes a tissue sample to be captured in the end effector assembly. The biopsy forceps device is then removed from the body cavity via the working channel of the endoscope.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the invention, an embodiment of the invention includes a medical device including a handle, an end effector assembly, and a member connecting the handle to the end effector assembly. The end effector assembly includes an end effector having non-sharp edges and corners.
Another embodiment of the invention includes a medical device including a handle, an end effector assembly, and a member connecting the handle to the end effector assembly. Portions of the end effector assembly have a roughened surface.
Yet another embodiment of the invention includes a medical device including a handle, an end effector assembly, and a member connecting the handle to the end effector assembly. The end effector assembly includes opposing jaw portions each including a plurality of teeth. Each of the teeth includes a crest, a root, and an intermediate portion between the crest and the root. The intermediate portions of opposing jaw portions are configured to contact each other when the opposing jaw portions are brought together and the root has a recessed portion configured to accommodate a sharp, pointed tip of the crest.
Still another embodiment of the invention includes a medical device including a handle, an end effector assembly, and a member connecting the handle to the end effector assembly. The end effector assembly includes at least one end effector having a tang defining a mounting hole configured to receive one of a wire and an axle and the tang includes a portion disposed around the mounting hole that has a thickness greater than a thickness of other portions of the tang.
A further embodiment of the invention includes a medical device including a handle, an end effector assembly, and a member connecting the handle to the end effector assembly. The end effector assembly includes at least one biopsy jaw having a tissue receiving portion that defines at least one hole configured so as to substantially prevent contact between an edge of the hole and a tube-like member in which the end effector assembly is configured to extend through.
A yet further embodiment of the invention includes a medical device including a soft-grip handle, an end effector assembly, and a member connecting the handle to the end effector assembly.
A still further embodiment of the invention includes a medical device including a handle, an end effector assembly, and an elongate, flexible member connecting the handle to the end effector assembly. A proximal portion of a distal third of the elongate member is more flexible than adjacent portions of the elongate member.
Another embodiment of the invention includes a medical device including a handle, an end effector assembly, and an elongate, flexible member connecting the handle to the end effector assembly. The end effector assembly includes a pair of opposing biopsy jaws each having a tissue receiving portion having a roughened surface and defining a hole, the hole configured so as to substantially prevent contact between an edge of the hole and a tube-like member in which the end effector assembly is configured to extend through. Each biopsy jaw further includes a tang defining a mounting hole configured to receive one of a wire and an axle, the tang including a portion disposed around the mounting hole that has a thickness greater than a thickness of other portions of the tang. Each biopsy jaw further includes a plurality of teeth, each of the teeth including a crest, a root, and an intermediate portion between the crest and the root. The intermediate portions of opposing biopsy jaws are configured to contact each other when the biopsy jaws are brought together, and the root has a recessed portion configured to accommodate a sharp, pointed tip of the crest.
Various embodiments of the invention may have any or all of the following features. wherein the end effector defines a hole having a non-sharp edge. The end effector may include a jaw extending from an arm, and wherein all edges of the jaw other than a cutting edge of the jaw are non-sharp. The non-sharp edges and corners may be beveled. Portions of the end effector assembly may have a rougher surface than other portions of the end effector assembly. The end effector assembly may include a biopsy forceps jaw having a roughened surface. The roughened surface of the biopsy forceps jaws may be an outer surface of the biopsy forceps jaw. The roughened surface of the biopsy forceps jaws may be an inner surface of the biopsy forceps jaw. The roughened surface may be formed by one of grit blasting, media tumbling, plating, sputtering, photo-etching, acid-etching, and plasma coating. The root may be at least a partial, substantially circular cutout. A center of the cutout may be displaced vertically relative to adjacent intermediate portions. A center of the cutout may be displaced horizontally relative to a center of adjacent intermediate portions. The root may be a U-shaped groove. A center of the U-shaped groove may be displaced vertically relative to adjacent intermediate portions. A center of the U-shaped groove may be displaced horizontally relative to a center of adjacent intermediate portions. A gap may be between the tip and the root of opposing teeth when the opposing jaw portions are brought together. A wire having a first wire portion may be substantially contacting one side of the tang and a second wire portion substantially contacting another side of the tang. The at least one end effector may include two end effectors. The wire may be bent on both sides of the mounting hole. A section of the tang defining a through hole may be folded so that the through hole is substantially aligned with the mounting hole. The at least one end effector may define a second mounting hole configured to receive the other of the wire and the axle, and wherein the tang includes a second portion around the second mounting hole that has a thickness greater than the thickness of other portions of the tang. The hole may be disposed off a centerline of the biopsy jaw. The at least one biopsy jaw may include two biopsy jaws. The at least one hole may include a plurality of holes. The handle may have a ring portion connected to an elongate portion, and a spool portion disposed around the elongate portion, and wherein the ring portion and the spool portion have a soft-grip configuration. The handle may have a plurality of finger rings, and wherein the finger rings have a soft-grip configuration. The soft-grip handle may include a low durometer material. The soft-grip handle may include at least one of santoprene and urethane.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present exemplary embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
An exemplary embodiment of a medical device is depicted in
A current biopsy forceps jaw 30, such as that shown in
Embodiments of the invention include a medical device or portions of the medical device with chamfered corners and/or edges.
Providing a medical device, or portions thereof, with non-sharp edges and corners may apply to other types of end effectors or other parts of endoscopic or non-endoscopic instruments, including, but not limited to graspers, scissors, forceps, or other laproscopic, endoscopic, or other devices. For example,. the medical device may have a sharp cutting edge that is a radial edge (i.e., a straight cutting edge with no teeth). Other edges, corners, and surface intersections, aside from those mentioned above, may be rounded, chamfered, beveled, and/or radiused off as desired to minimize the effects associated with sharp regions as the device is being used. For example, other portions of the end effector assembly, including tang portions, clevis portions, and/or axle portions may include rounded, chamfered, beveled, and/or radiused off edges and corners.
Embodiments of the invention include a medical device or portions of the medical device having a controlled surface finish, including a roughened surface finish.
Tissues are less prone to sticking to surfaces of jaws having a rough finish than surfaces of jaws having a smooth finish. For example, tissue samples cut with the roughened jaws 73 may be less prone to sticking to the surfaces 71, 72 of the jaws 73. By lessening the smoothness of the inner surface 72 of the jaws 73, the tissue sample may be more easily removed from the jaws 73, for example, when the tissue sample is discharged into an external container.
One potential advantage of having a controlled roughness on the surface of the jaws is that by reducing the amount of sticking, surface contact, and/or seal between the tissue samples and the biopsy jaws, the amount of time spent in a biopsy tissue acquisition procedure is reduced. For example, the amount of time spent trying to release the surface contact between the tissue samples and the surfaces of the jaws, during multiple sample acquisition and/or removing the samples from the jaws into an external specimen container, is reduced. This may permit faster turnaround when a single bite biopsy forceps assembly needs to be removed from an endoscope, the tissue sample retrieved from the jaw, and the assembly reinserted into the endoscope to obtain a subsequent sample.
Another potential advantage for having a rough finish on the surface of the endoscopic instrument is that it reduces surface contact between jaws and/or prevents surfaces of the jaws from sealing and/or sticking to each other. Smooth surfaces may sometimes stick together and form a seal, particularly if a fluid is placed between the surfaces. Having a rough finish on the surface of the jaws reduces the force with which that particular surface of the jaws will stick to either each other or another surface. For example, the surfaces of the teeth of opposing jaws may be less prone to sticking to each other when brought together.
Yet another potential advantage for controlling the surface finish of an endoscopic instrument is that it may provide a more consistent feel and/or performance to the user. For example, the entire endoscopic instrument may have a particular finish, or portions of the endoscopic instrument, such as the end effectors, may have different finishes.
A further potential advantage for controlling the surface finish of an endoscopic instrument is that, for example, when an optimum level of roughness is provided to the surface of the jaw assembly, tissue is more readily grasped and retained in the jaws, for example, so that multiple samples may be collected with a single bite forceps. The controlled surface texture may allow a user to obtain subsequent tissue samples with the prior sample(s) remaining within the jaws. A particular texture of the jaws may allow the tissue sample to be retained within the open jaws while the user acquires a second sample.
A still further potential advantage for controlling the surface finish of an endoscopic instrument is that, for example, when an optimum level of roughness is provided to the surface of the jaw assembly, the roughened surface may assist in both retaining and removing the sample. Such assistance may be dependent on the presence or absence of an external force. For example, when there is no external force exerted on the sample, the roughened surface may assist in the retention of the sample. In another example, when an external force is applied to the sample, the roughened surface may assist in the removal of the sample.
The roughness of the surfaces 71, 72 of the jaw assembly 70 may be created and/or adjusted, for example, by controlling the casting of the jaws 73 and/or subsequent processing of the jaw assembly 70. Subsequent processing may including grit blasting, media tumbling, and/or any other suitable surface finishing technique. The surfaces 71, 72 of the jaw assembly 70 could also be plated, sputtered, photo-etched, acid-etched, and/or plasma coated to control the roughness of the surface. The surface or surfaces of the endoscopic instrument may have a roughness in the range of a few hundred microinches, and may be varied, for example, by increments of a few hundred microinches. The relative roughness of the surface or surfaces of the endoscopic instrument may be varied with respect to each other. For example, one surface or portion of a surface may have a relatively rough finish, while another surface or portion of a surface may have a relatively smooth finish.
Providing surface(s) of a medical device, or portions thereof, with a controlled finish, for example a roughened surface, may apply to other types of end effectors or other parts of endoscopic or non-endoscopic instruments, including, but not limited to graspers, scissors, forceps, or other laproscopic, endoscopic, or other devices. Furthermore, other portions of the end effector assembly, including tang portions, clevis portions, and/or axle portions may include surfaces with a controlled finish, for example, a roughened surface. Additionally, only specific portions of parts of the end effector assembly may have a controlled finish. For example, only the inner surfaces of a the jaws of an end effector assembly may have a roughened surface.
Views of mated jaw portions 83 of endoscopic instruments are shown in
The configuration of the root 89 may limit the configuration of the teeth. For example, in order for opposing teeth 84 to fit together, the substantially diagonal portions 90 of teeth 84 on opposing jaw portions 83 need to meet before the crest 88 contacts the root 89. Otherwise, a gap 91 will form between the substantially diagonal portions 90 of opposing jaw portions 83, as shown in
In some cases, to ensure the opposing jaws portions 83 fully close, as shown in
Embodiments of the invention include a medical device having jaws with various tooth and/or teeth configurations that overcome one or more of the drawbacks. A jaw assembly 180 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is depicted in
In various embodiments, the cutout portions of the root may have any shape or configuration that permits contact between substantially diagonal portions of opposing jaws that include sharp teeth. For example,
Embodiments of the invention include a medical device having an end effector assembly with various tang configurations. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a substantially narrow tang portion may have a widened portion, for example, by placing a dimple 201 on a tang portion 200 around a mounting hole 202. For example, as shown in
Specifically, it allows the thickness of the tang portion 200 without the dimple 201 to be reduced, while still allowing the tang portion 200 and/or the mounting hole 202 to receive and accommodate an end portion of a wire 101 with an interface portion 104 having a length of about 0.015 inches. For example, if the width of the tang portion 200 is about 0.007 inches, a dimple 201 of about 0.008 inches could be added to the tang portion 200 so as to accommodate an end portion of a wire 101 with an interface portion 104 having a length of about 0.015 inches, without the end portion of the wire 101 undesirably shifting in and/or falling out of the mounting hole 202. This is especially advantageous when manufacturing a stamped jaw (with tang) having a thickness of material that is less than the length of the interface portion 104.
In various embodiments, the bends 103 need not make the end portion of the wire 101 into necessarily a roughly Z-shaped configuration. For example, the bends 103 could form the end portion of the wire 101 into a roughly U-shaped configuration. In addition, the bends 103 may be formed using any method known in the art. Furthermore, the dimples 201 may be formed using any method known in the art. For example, material may be soldered on and/or attached to the tang portion 200 using an adhesive to form dimples 201. Additionally, the thickness of the tang portion need not be increased by placing a dimple, as a portion of the tang portion may be folded over to increase the thickness. For example, in a tang portion manufactured from material having a thickness of about 0.007 inches, folding over the material would create a tang portion with a thickness of about 0.014 inches.
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a tang portion of an end effector assembly of a medical device may have a widened and/or thickened portion, for example, by folding over material in a portion of the tang around the axle hole.
As shown in
In various embodiments, the tang portion may be widened by forming and then folding over multiple additional portions, for example, three additional portions. The width and/or thickness of other portions of a medical device, including other portions of the end effectors and/or end effector assembly, may be increased using this method. The folded over portion and/or tang portion may be of any desired shape, size, dimensions, and/or configurations. For example, all the dimensions listed above are exemplary only.
Embodiments of the invention include a medical device with holes in various portions of the medical device, including through the end effectors. For example, as shown in
In various embodiments, the holes 121 may have any shape, for example, round, circular, oblong, square, and triangular. The holes 121 may also have of any size and have any desired dimensions. There may be any number of holes 121 on any portion of the medical device, but what is disclosed here are holes 121 that are not substantially located on the centerline 122 of the medical device and/or portions of the medical device that may come into contact with a channel and/or another object external to the medical device. The holes 121 need not necessarily be on portions of the medical device that completely preclude the holes 121 from coming into contact with the channel and/or another object external to the medical device, but may be on a portion where such contact is reduced or minimal relative to other portions of the medical device.
Embodiments of the invention include a medical device with user-interface portions configured to reduce stress (i.e. force) on the operator. For example, the handle of a medical device (e.g., an endoscopic instrument with a handle portion) may have soft-grip features. The entire handle may comprise the soft-grip features, or portions of the handle may have soft grip features, for example, those portions that accommodate a user's fingers. For example, in a handle 130 comprising a ring portion 132, an elongate portion 131, and a spool portion 133 disposed around the elongate portion 131, as shown in
The soft-grip feature may be a low durometer material, for example, santoprene or urethane, incorporated into the medical device. The soft-grip features reduce stress on the operator, for example, by reducing the stress on their hands, and have a more comfortable ergonomic feel. The reduction in stress on the user may allow the user to perform more procedures than with a medical device without the soft-grip features.
In various embodiments, any soft material may be used as soft-grip features, for example, rubber and/or rubbery thermoplastics. The soft-grip features may be placed on any portion of the medical device, for example, that have the potential to be handled by a user, provided that it does not otherwise interfere with the operation of the medical device. The soft-grip features may also be varied across portions of the device. For example, portions of the device may have different materials with different durometers.
Embodiments of the invention include a medical device having portions with variable stiffness. For example, in endoscopic instruments with an elongate member, portions of the elongate member may have variable stiffness. Some portions of the elongate member may be more flexible, for example, to allow the elongate member to be navigated through areas of the body having curves (i.e., tubular regions with greater tortuosity). Because of the flexibility, at least these portions of the elongate member may easily bend around even sharp curves, for example, in the gastrointestinal tract. Other portions of the elongate member may be more rigid, for example, to allow the elongate member to be properly advanced through areas of the body (e.g., tubular regions). Because of the rigidity, at least these portions of the elongate member can be pushed through, for example, the gastrointestinal tract.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
In various embodiments, the elongate member may have its rigidity varied along any portion of the elongate member, may have multiple portions with multiple levels of stiffness, and/or may be manufactured using any method known in the art.
In various embodiments, all aspects of the invention set forth herein may be used in conjunction with any medical device, instrument, or procedure, and/or any non-medical device, instrument, or procedure. In addition, one or more of the aspects of the invention set forth herein may be combined in the same device.
Other embodiments of the invention will-be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
Claims
1. A medical device comprising:
- a handle;
- an end effector assembly; and
- a member connecting the handle to the end effector assembly,
- wherein the end effector assembly comprises opposing jaw portions each including a plurality of teeth,
- wherein each of the teeth includes a crest, a root, a first intermediate portion between the crest and the root, and a second intermediate portion between the crest and a root of an adjoining tooth, and
- wherein surfaces of first intermediate portions and surfaces of second intermediate portions of opposing as portions are configured to contact each other when the opposing jaw portions are fully closed, wherein the surfaces of the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion of a tooth are transverse to a longitudinal axis of the jaw portions with no portion of the surfaces of the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion of the tooth being aligned, and
- wherein the root has a recessed portion configured to accommodate a sharp, pointed tip of the crest of an opposing tooth,
- wherein a gap exists between the tip and the lowest point of the root of an opposing tooth when the opposing jaw portions are filly closed.
2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein at least one opposing jaw portion has a tissue receiving portion configured to retain at least one tissue sample, the tissue receiving portion defining at least one hole configured so as to, substantially prevent contact between an outer edge of the hole and a tube-like member in which the end effector assembly is configured to extend through.
3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the handle is a soft-grip handle.
4. A medical device comprising:
- a handle;
- an end effector assembly; and
- a member connecting the handle to the end effector assembly,
- wherein the end effector assembly comprises opposing jaw portions each including plurality of teeth,
- wherein each of the teeth includes a crest, a root, a first intermediate portion between the crest and the root, and a second intermediate portion between the crest and root of an adjoining tooth, and
- wherein surfaces of first intermediate portions and surfaces of second intermediate portions of opposing jaw portions are configured to contact each other When the opposing jaw portions are fully closed, wherein the surfaces of the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion of a tooth are transverse to a longitudinal axis of the jaw portions portion of the surfaces of the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion of the tooth being aligned,
- wherein the root has a recessed portion configured to accommodate a sharp, pointed tip of the crest of an opposing tooth, and
- wherein a gap exists between the tip and the lowest point of the root of an opposing tooth when the opposing jaw portions are fully closed,
- wherein the root is at least a partial, substantially circular cutout.
5. The medical device of claim 4, wherein a center of the cutout is displaced vertically relative to adjacent intermediate portions.
6. The medical device of claim 4, wherein a center of the cutout is displaced horizontally relative to a center of adjacent intermediate portions.
7. A medical device comprising:
- a handle;
- an end effector assembly; and
- a member connecting the handle to the end effector assembly,
- wherein the end effector assembly comprises opposing jaw portions each including a plurality of teeth,
- wherein each of the teeth includes a crest, a root, a first intermediate portion between the crest and the root, and a second intermediate portion between the crest and the root of an adjoining tooth, and
- wherein surfaces of first intermediate portions and surfaces of second intermediate portions of opposing jaw portions are configured to contact each other when the opposing jaw portions are fully closed, wherein the surfaces of the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion of a tooth are transverse to a longitudinal axis of the jaw portions with no portion of the surfaces of the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion of the tooth being aligned,
- wherein the root has a recessed portion configured to accommodate a sharp, pointed tip of the crest of an opposing tooth, and
- wherein a gap exists between the tip and the lowest point of the root of an opposing tooth when the opposing jaw portions are fully closed,
- wherein the root is a U-shaped groove.
8. The medical device of claim 7, wherein a center of the U-shaped groove is displaced vertically relative to adjacent intermediate portions.
9. The medical device of claim 7, wherein a center of the U-shaped groove is displaced horizontally relative to a center of adjacent intermediate portions.
10. A medical device comprising:
- a handle;
- an end effector assembly; and
- a member connecting the handle to the end effector assembly,
- wherein the end effector assembly comprises opposing jaw portions each including a plurality of teeth,
- wherein each of the teeth includes a crest, a root, a first intermediate portion between the crest and the root, and a second intermediate portion between the crest and a root of an adjoining tooth, and
- wherein surfaces of first intermediate portions and surfaces of second intermediate portions of opposing jaw portions are configured to contact each other when the opposing jaw portions are fully closed, wherein the surfaces of the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion of a tooth are transverse to a longitudinal axis of the jaw portions with no portion of the surfaces of the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion of the tooth being aligned,
- wherein the root has a recessed portion configured to accommodate a sharp, pointed tip of the crest of an opposing tooth, and
- wherein a gap exists between the tip and the lowest point of the root of an opposing tooth when the opposing jaw portions are fully closed,
- wherein each opposing jaw portion includes a tang defining a mounting hole configured to receive one of a wire and an axle, and
- wherein the tang includes a portion disposed around the mounting hole that has a thickness greater than a thickness of other portions of the tang,
- wherein a section of the tang defining a through hole is folded so that the through hole is substantially aligned with the mounting hole.
11. A medical device comprising:
- a handle;
- an end effector assembly; and
- an elongate, flexible member connecting the handle to the end effector assembly,
- wherein the end effector assembly includes a pair of opposing biopsy jaws having teeth for cutting a tissue sample, the pair of opposing biopsy jaws each having a tissue receiving portion other than teeth having roughened inner and outer surfaces, and at least one of the pair of opposing biopsy jaws defining a hole, the bole configured so as to substantially prevent contact between an outer edge of the hole and a tube-like member in which the end effector assembly is configured to extend through,
- wherein each biopsy jaw further includes a tang defining a mounting hole configured, to receive one of a wire and an axle, the tang including a portion disposed around the mounting hole that has a thickness greater than a thickness of other portions of the tang,
- wherein each biopsy jaw further includes a plurality of teeth, each of the teeth including a crest, a root, a first intermediate portion between the crest and the root, and a second intermediate portion between the crest and a root of an adjoining tooth,
- wherein surfaces of first intermediate portions and surfaces of second intermediate portions of opposing biopsy jaws are configured to contact each other when the biopsy jaws are fully closed, wherein the surfaces of the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion of a tooth are transverse to a longitudinal axis of the jaw portions with no portion of the surfaces of the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion being aligned, and the root has a recessed portion configured to accommodate a sharp pointed tip of the crest, and
- wherein a gap exists between the tip and the lowest point of the root of an opposing tooth when the opposing jaw portions are fully closed.
12. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the biopsy jaw includes a jaw extending from an arm, and
- wherein all edges of the jaw other than a cutting edge of the jaw are non-sharp.
13. The medial device claim 11, wherein the roughened surface is formed by one of grit blasting, media tumbling, plating, sputtering, photo-etching, acid-etching and plasma coating.
14. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the handle is a soft-grip handle.
15. A medical device comprising:
- a handle;
- an end effector assembly: and
- an elongate, flexible member connecting the handle to the end effector assembly,
- wherein the end effector assembly includes a pair of opposing biopsy jaws each having a tissue receiving portion other than teeth having a roughened surface, and at least one of the pair of opposing biopsy jaws defining a hole, the hole configured so as to substantially prevent contact between an outer edge of the hole and a tube-like member in which the end effector assembly is configured to extend through,
- wherein each biopsy jaw further includes a tang defining a mounting hole configured to receive one of a wire and an axle, the tang including a portion disposed around the mounting hole that has a thickness greater than a thickness of other portions of the tang,
- wherein each biopsy jaw further includes a plurality of teeth, each of the teeth including a crest, a root, a first intermediate portion between the crest and the root, and a second intermediate portion between the rest and a root of an adjoining tooth,
- wherein surfaces of first intermediate portions and surfaces of second intermediate portions of opposing biopsy jaws are configured to contact each other when the biopsy jaws arc fully closed, wherein the surfaces of the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion of a tooth are transverse to a longitudinal axis of the jaw portions with no portion of the surfaces of the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion of the tooth being aligned, and the root has a recessed portion configured to accommodate a sharp, pointed tip of the crest.
- wherein a gap exists between the tip and the lowest point of the root of an opposing tooth when the opposing jaw portions are fully closed,
- wherein a section of the tang defining a through hole is folded so that the through hole is substantially aligned with the mounting hole.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 17, 2004
Date of Patent: Jun 25, 2013
Patent Publication Number: 20040260198
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Maple Grove, MN)
Inventors: Elliott Rothberg (Coral Springs, FL), William Gil De Montes (Pembroke Pines, FL), James M. Zardeskas (Pascoag, RI), David I. Freed (Westborough, MA), Michael J. Magill (Northboro, MA), Satish Sharma (Randolph, MA), Jon Gingrich (Shrewsbury, MA), Edward Boarini (Holliston, MA)
Primary Examiner: Kathleen Holwerda
Application Number: 10/778,226
International Classification: A61B 17/32 (20060101); A61B 17/29 (20060101);